In a surprising turn of events with far-reaching implications, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has formally severed its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announcing its intention to lead an independent front in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This announcement comes after months of escalating tensions between the two parties, fueled by disparaging remarks from key BJP figures about AIADMK leaders.
The decision to break ties with the BJP was made public on Monday when the AIADMK unanimously passed a resolution to this effect. K P Munusamy, Deputy Coordinator of AIADMK, addressed the media, saying, “The state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks about our former leaders, our general secretary EPS, and our cadres for the past one year.” This declaration marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.
What had been a strained relationship between the AIADMK and the BJP reached its breaking point due to repeated comments made by Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai against AIADMK leaders. The war of words between the two allies escalated to the point where AIADMK spokesperson D Jayakumar labeled Annamalai a “destructive pest” for his comments about Tamil Nadu’s first chief minister, CN Annadurai.
The AIADMK’s decision to go solo in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections also means that it will not be part of the opposition bloc known as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
This development had been brewing in the background even as AIADMK’s K Palaniswami met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 14. Subsequently, an AIADMK delegation visited Delhi to discuss the alliance issue with BJP Chief JP Nadda and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal. Unfortunately, these discussions failed to yield positive results, as the national BJP leadership chose not to intervene in the state-level dispute.
Reflecting on their past electoral performance, it is evident that the AIADMK’s decision to form an alliance with the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections did not yield the expected results. In that election, AIADMK won only one out of the contested seats, with Raveendranath Kumar, the son of O. Panneerselvam, emerging as their sole victorious candidate. This outcome was in stark contrast to 2014 when AIADMK contested independently and secured a remarkable 37 out of 38 Lok Sabha seats.
The AIADMK’s decision to part ways with the BJP marks a significant shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. It remains to be seen how this move will impact the dynamics of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and whether the AIADMK’s decision to lead a separate front will resonate with the electorate. The AIADMK party workers celebrated this decision with enthusiasm, bursting crackers in Chennai, underscoring the significance of this break-up in Tamil Nadu’s political history. As of now, there has been no official response from Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai regarding this development.
Sources By Agencies
